Looking for a sanity check on if someone with really zero mechanic ability and someone who over complicates the simplest of fixes (me) could do this or if I should just find a body shop who will spend <1 hour to fix.

This video I found on tiktok shows my exact issue and I bought the door handle edge guard that I lost which made the handle pop off before I knew how much is involved with it...I had no idea this would be something I would need to take apart trim, etc.

https://www.tiktok.com/@visualperfection1/video/7474707718117575982

Would gluing this little piece be an option?

I am actually going for an oil change to my independent mechanic this week, so curious if they would take care of it for an hour of labor.

I'd have the mechanic take a crack at it. Seems like a pain. Could probably epoxy it but you'd just be kicking the can down the road should the epoxy fail

Thanks for the time to respond!

I did speak to a local mechanic (small town) who corrected me when I asked if he would take a look at an easy fix and said it is a painful process. Quoted me $300 in labor just shooting from the hip which sounds high.

I will see what my independent shop has to say first.

I recently replaced all 4 door lock actuators on my 2014 Highlander. That's the thing the guy in the video had to remove to access the screw and also fiddle with to get it to work. It was a pretty simple job and I got all 4 doors done in about 90 minutes. Just watch a YouTube video that shows how to remove the door panel. It's easy to do, but some of the screws are hidden. A trim removal tool is very helpful.

$300 sounds high, but if you aren't comfortable doing the work then it's money well spent.

Thanks for sharing your similar experience. I feel a bit better knowing it is not a super easy fix and at least somewhat reasonable to just stimulate the local economy.

Got closure today, my independent mechanic, during already schedule maintenance visit, charged me $140 to get the door taken care of. Took about an hour.

Unfortunately, found a radiator leak, which will actually be the first big repair on this vehicle.